Vietnam sets 2025 health targets

By 2025 about 95 per cent of the Vietnamese population will be covered by the national health insurance, according to a target set by a resolution of the 6th Plenum of Communist Party of Viet Nam, which concluded on October 11.

A doctor examines ethnic children in Lang Cheu Village, Bac Yen District in the northern mountainous province of Sơn La. National health insurance is hoped to cover most of the Vietnamese population by 2025.

The resolution states that by 2025 the life expectancy of the Vietnamese people will be about 74.5 years old, of which they will enjoy at least 67 years of healthy life. It also aims that by 2025, the direct health cost on each household will be 35 percent lower than the current cost.

By 2030, Viet Nam hopes to raise average longevity to 75 years old, with at least 68 years of healthy life.

Meanwhile by 2020 at least 95 per cent of children are expected to be vaccinated under the expanded national immunisation programme. The mortality rate among children under five years old will drop to 18.5 per 1,000 and for under one-year-olds to 12.5 per 1,000. The proportion of underweight children among those under five years old will be kept below 20 per cent, while the obesity rate among adolescents will be capped at 12 per cent.

The resolution aims that by 2020, 95 per cent of communal health centres, wards or towns will undertake the task of preventive medicine, health management and treatment of certain non-communicable diseases.

Viet Nam also sets the target that by 2025 there will be 30 hospital beds, 10 doctors and 25 nurses per 10,000 people and raise the percentage of people’s satisfaction with the public health service to over 80 percent. According to 2016 data, the country currently has 25 beds, 8.7 doctors and 14.1 nurses for each 10,000 people.

By 2030 the country aims to have 32 hospital beds; 11 health physicians; 3 pharmacists; and 33 nurses per 10,000 people.

By 2030 up to 95 per cent of the population will be covered by the National Expanded Immunisation Programme, with 14 types of vaccines. The mortality rate among children under 5 years old will be dropped to 15 per thousand and 10 per thousand for children under one year old. Last year, the figures were 21.6 and 14.6, respectively.

Viet Nam also aims that by 2030 the average height of Vietnamese youth will be 168.5 cm for males and 157.5 cm for females.

The country aims to eliminate the HIV and AIDS pandemic, TB and malaria by 2030.

By 2030, the percentage of people happy with the public health service will be over 90 percent.